Strategy, Arabian Heritage, Higher Education, Renaissance, Musicology and Ethnomusicology
Lisa Urkevich, PhD
د. ليسا
Anne Boleyn's Music Book. First performance in 500 years.
Dr. Urkevich Conducting
©ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Music transcriptions may be performed with the
following attribution: "Edited by Lisa Urkevich."
Anne Boleyn's Music Book
ANONYMOUS MOTETS
BU Collegium Musicum
Director, L. Urkevich
1. Laudate Dominum
unicum, No. 3 in MS 1070
Psalm 116/Gloria Patri
a. Laudate Dominum omnes gentes,
laudate eum omnes populi
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Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia eius, et veritas Domini manet in aeternum
b. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto
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Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum
Amen
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a. Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people
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For his mercy is confirmed upon us and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever
b. Glory to the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit​
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As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end
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Amen
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2. Fer piétais
unicum, No. 11 in MS 1070
Prayer for the feasts of the Immaculate Conception, 8 Dec, and the Birthday of Mary, 8 Sept
​Fer pietatis opem miseris,
Mater pietatis,
et nostri memor
assidua prece posce tonantem.
Give the help of your love to the wretched, Mother of Piety,
And remember us,
Implore God with constant prayer.
3. Regina celi/Resurrexit sicut
Anonymous, No. 20 in MS 1070
Famous antiphon in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
a. Regina celi letare,
Alleluya
Quia quem meruisti portare,
Alleluya
b. Resurrexit sicut dixit,
Alleluya
Ora pro nobis Deum,
Alleluya
a. Queen of Heaven rejoice,
Alleluya
He whom thou wast worthy to bear, Alleluya:
b. is risen as He said,
Alleluya
Pray for us to God,
Alleluya
4. Maria Magdalena/Jesum quern
unicum, No. 15 in MS 1070
Text for Easter Resurrection comprised of biblical phrases based on Matthew 28: 1-6
a. Maria Magdalene et altera Maria ibant diluculo ad monumentum
Angelus Domini descendit de caelo, et dixit mulieribus:
b. "Jesum quern quaeritis non est hie, surrexit ecce locus ubi posuerunt eum. Alleluya"
a. Maria Magdalene and the other Mary went early to the tomb
The Angel of God descended from heaven and said to the women:
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b. “Jesus whom you seek is not here,
He is risen, behold the place where they laid him. Alleluya”
5. O Virgo Virginum/
Fillie Jerusalem
unicum, No. 27 in MS 1070
Antiphon to the Magnificat for the
Feast of the Expectation of Birth
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 18
a. O Virgo virginum,
quomodo fiet istud
quia nec primam similem visa est nec habere sequentem?
b. Filie Jerusalem
quid me admiramini?
Divinum est mysterium
hoc quod cemitis
a. O Virgin of virgins,
how can this be
that none like thee has been seen or ever shall be?
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b. O daughters of Jerusalem
why are ye astonished?
Divine is the mystery that ye see
6. Bona Dies/Pax vobis ego sum
unicum, No. 18 of MS 1070
Easter text, part 2 begins with the words of Jesus to His Apostles after the Resurrection (Luke 24: 36)
Bona dies per orbem lucescit, de sepulcro Rex noster recessit
Bona dies in qua resurrexit, Moriendo qui morte destruxit
Bona dies est qua preparavit Resurgendo qui vitam paravit
Bona dies est ad cuis ortum Perducamur ad salutis portum
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Pax vobis ego sum, Alleluya,
Nolite timere, Alleluya,
Pax vobis ego sum, Alleluya,
Portas attolite, [Alleluya],
Pax vobis qui tristes, [Alleluya],
De nece fuistis, [Alleluya], Estate nunc testes, [Alleluya],
Qui vivum vidistis, [Alleluya],
Dominus surrexit, [Alleluya],
Sicut vobis dixit, [Alleluya]
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Bona dies, bona dies,
Dicere centies non sufficit, Ergo bona dies, [Alleluya]
Blessed day shining throughout the world, Our King arises from the sepulcher
Blessed day in which He has risen,
He who destroyed death by dying
Blessed day on which preparation is made by He who gives life by rising again
Blessed day at the beginning of which
we are led through the port of salvation
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Peace be with you, Alleluya,
Fear not, Alleluya,
Peace be with you, Alleluya,
Open the gates, [Alleluya],
Peace be with those who are mournful, [Alleluya], Because of death, [Alleluya],
be now witness, [Alleluya],
You who see Him alive, [Alleluya],
The Lord is risen, [Alleluya],
As He told you, [Alleluya]
Blessed day, blessed day,
To say a hundred times is not enough, Ergo, blessed day, [Alleluya]
7. Paranymphus
[here performed on recorders]
Loyset Compere
No. 24 in MS 1070
“Paranymphus,” the bridesman, refers to the angel Gabriel, angelus paranymphus, i.e., the angel bridesman. Boleyn's name appears with this piece
Paranymphus salutat Virginem intemeratam:
“Deus tecum, inter mulieres benedicta
Ave” inquit “gratia plena humilis Maria
Pars II:
Ecce virgo decora, virginitate servata, tu paries Filium, intacta Maria”
The Bridesman [best man] greets the undefiled Virgin:
“God is with thee, blessed among woman,"
"Hail,” he says, “humble Mary full of grace
Part II:
Behold, beautiful virgin, your virginity having been preserved, you will give birth to a Son, chaste Mary”
8. Gabrielem archangelum/
Gloria Patri
unicum, No. 33 in MS 1070
The text of part I is the versus of the responsory for the Annunciation, Gaude Maria Virgo, cunctas haereses.
a. Gabrielem archangelum scimus divinitus te esse affatum; uterum tuum de Spiritu Sancto nominus [credimus] impregnatum. Erubescat Judaeus infelix qui dicit Christum ex Joseph semine esse natum
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b. Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto
a. We know the archangel Gabriel addressed you by divine knowledge, [we believe] how your womb was impregnated by the Holy Spirit.
Shame on the Unfortunate Jew who said Christ was born from the seed of Joseph
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b. Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit
9. Venes Regrets
Anonymous, French chanson
No. 36 in MS 1070
Later addition to the music book (copied by hand 5). Song can be found in a Renaissance print, Attaingnant, Trente et deux chansons musicales, ca 1528, that was no doubt prepared years after the work was copied into MS 1070.
Venes regres venes tous a mon cueur
venes y tost nul de vous ne me laisse
venes soucyvenes parmes et pleursvenes y tous qui les amans oppresse
Come regrets, come all to my heart, Come swiftly, let none of you depart; Come care, come sorrow, and come tears, Come all that oppresses a lover’s heart
10. Popule meus (4 parts)
Anonymous, No. 37 of MS 1070
The text is a variation of the Improperia, or Reproaches, which are solemn prayers sung on Good Friday of Easter Week
1. Popule meus quid feci tibi,
aut in quo contristavi te?
Responde mihi.
Ego eduxi te de Egypto in manu forti, in signis magnis et prodigus excelsis,
et parasti crucem salvatori tuo.
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2. Ego eduxi te mare Rubrum et demersi pharaonem et excercitum eius coram oculis tuis, et de spolius eius namque ditavi te,
et parasti crucem salvatori tuo.
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3. Ego eduxi te per desertum quadraginta annis,
vestimenta tua non sunt atrita,
manna quoque cibavi te et introduxi in terram satis optimam, et parasti crucem salvatori tuo.
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4. Quid ultra debui facere tibi et non feci? Ego quidem plantavi te et muro circumdedi te, et de primitus
frugum tuarum aceto potasti me,
et peiforasti lancea latus, salvatori tuo.
1. My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me.
I led you from Egypt with a strong hand,
with great signs of high wonders,
and you prepared a cross for your Savior.
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2. I led you through the Red Sea
and drowned Pharoah and his army before your eyes, and from his spoils I also enriched you,
and you prepared a cross for your Savior.
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3. I led you through the desert for forty years, your garments did not become worn,
with manna I also fed you and led you into the most sufficient land,
and you prepared a cross for your Savior.
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4. What more could I have done for you that I did not do? Indeed, I settled you and surrounded you with a wall, and of the first of your fruits of the earth, you gave Me vinegar to drink, and pierced through the side of My body, This for your Savior
11. Gentila galans
Anonymous, No. 42 in MS 1070,
the last piece in the music book.
French drinking chanson, a "theatrical chanson," likely has some connection to Boleyn's friend Marguerite d ’Angouleme/Alencon. Is found in many manuscripts and prints from as early as 1520
Gentilz galans compaingnons du resin bevons d’autant au soir
et au matin jusque a cent soulz et ho! A nostre hostesse ne baillon point
d ’argent mais ung credo
Dear, gallant drinking companions [companions of the grape]
let us drink the same amount in the evening and in the morning as a hundred drunkards (or a hundred sous [unit of money] worth) and ho! To our hostess, let us not give money, but rather I.O.U. (or a prayer/creed).